[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H4863-H4866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GULF WAR HEALTH RESEARCH REFORM ACT OF 2014
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4261) to improve the research of Gulf War Illness,
the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4261
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Gulf War Health Research
Reform Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON GULF
WAR VETERANS' ILLNESSES.
(a) Independence of Committee.--Subsection (b) of section
707 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-
585; 38 U.S.C. 527 note) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Not later than'' and inserting ``(1)
Establishment.--Not later than''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(2) Independence.--(A) The Committee established under
paragraph (1) shall be an independent advisory committee
which shall provide advice and counsel to the congressional
veterans committees and to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
(as the head of the department designated under subsection
(a) that established the Committee under paragraph (1)).
``(B) In carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of
the Committee, the Committee shall be independent of the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Committee shall exert
independent control of the budget allocations, staffing
levels and expenditures, personnel decisions and processes,
procurements, and other administrative and management
functions of the Committee. The administration and management
of the Committee shall be subject to the usual and customary
Federal audit procedures.
``(3) Duties.--(A) The Committee shall provide to Congress,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the heads of other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government that
conduct research on illnesses in Gulf War veterans advice
with respect to proposed research studies, research plans, or
research strategies relating to the health consequences of
military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations
during the Gulf War.
``(B) The Committee may not conduct scientific research or
review research proposals submitted to the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs prior to funding. The Secretary shall
appoint three members from the Committee who have appropriate
scientific expertise to the committee designated to review
such research proposals relating to illnesses in Gulf War
veterans.
``(C) The guiding principle for the Committee shall be the
premise that the fundamental goal of Gulf War health-related
research, either basic or applied, conducted by the Federal
Government is to ultimately improve the health of ill Gulf
War veterans, and that the choice and success of research
efforts shall be judged accordingly. The Committee shall
assess the overall effectiveness of such research conducted
by the Federal Government to answer central questions on the
nature, causes, and treatments for health consequences of
military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations
during the Gulf War.
``(D) The Committee shall meet in public session to review
research funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs
relevant to understanding and treating the health
consequences of military service in the Gulf War, and the
processes conducted to solicit, review, and select such
funded research to assess methods, results, and implications
of such research. The Committee may review research plans,
initiatives, and activities from other departments and
agencies of the Federal Government supporting research
relating to the health consequences of military service in
the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.
``(4) Reports and Recommendations.--(A) Not later than
December 1 of each year, the Committee shall submit to the
congressional veterans committees and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs an annual report summarizing the activities
of the Committee during the period covered by the report.
``(B) The Committee shall submit to the congressional
veterans committees, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and
the head of any other department or agency of the Federal
Government that conducts research on illnesses in Gulf War
veterans any other reports and recommendations of the
Committee regarding Gulf War-related research.
``(C) Reports, recommendations, publications, and other
documents of the Committee shall not be subject to review or
approval by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
``(D) The Committee may submit to the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs proposed recommendations of the Committee for comment
for a period not to exceed 30 days.
``(E) Each report submitted by the Committee shall be
approved by the Committee meeting in public session prior to
such submission.
``(5) Membership.--(A) The Committee shall be composed of
12 members appointed as follows:
``(i) One member appointed jointly by the chairman of the
congressional veterans committees, who shall serve as
chairman of the Committee.
``(ii) Two members appointed by the chairman of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
``(iii) Two members appointed by the chairman of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
``(iv) Two members appointed by the ranking member of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
``(v) Two members appointed by the ranking member of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
``(vi) Three members appointed by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, of whom not less than one shall be a veteran.
``(B)(i) The first 11 vacancies from among the members of
the Committee (not including a member serving as chairman of
the Committee) occurring on or after the date of the
enactment of the Gulf War Health Research Reform Act of 2014
shall be filled by--
``(I) the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of
the House of Representatives appointing a member for the
first and sixth vacancy;
``(II) the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
of the Senate appointing a member for the second and seventh
vacancy;
``(III) the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives appointing a member
for the third and eighth vacancy;
``(IV) the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate appointing a member for the fourth and
ninth vacancy; and
``(V) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs appointing a member
for the fifth, tenth, and eleventh vacancy.
``(ii) A vacancy in the Committee of a member serving as
chairman shall be filled jointly by the chairmen of the
congressional veterans committees.
``(iii) Except as provided by clause (i) or (ii), a vacancy
in the Committee of a member shall be filled in the manner in
which the appointment of such member was made. A member
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration
of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed
shall be appointed only for the remainder of that term.
``(C) Of the members of the Committee who are appointed on
or after the date of the enactment of the Gulf War Health
Research Reform Act of 2014--
``(i) not fewer than three members shall be veterans;
``(ii) not fewer than eight members shall be scientists or
physicians who have experience in biomedicine, epidemiology,
immunology, environmental health, neurology, toxicology, or
other appropriate disciplines; and
``(iii) the chairman shall be a veteran or an expert
described in clause (ii), or both.
``(D) Each member of the Committee who is appointed on or
after the date of the enactment of the Gulf War Health
Research Reform Act of 2014 shall be appointed for a three-
year term. Except as provided by section 2(c)(3) of such Act,
a member may be reappointed once (not including the initial
appointment of a member made before the date of the enactment
of such Act).
``(6) Meetings.--(A) The Committee shall meet at the call
of the chairman, but not less than twice annually.
``(B) A majority of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold
hearings.
``(C)(i) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the head of the
Office of Research and Development of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, and the head of the Office of Public Health
of the Department shall attend each meeting of the Committee.
``(ii) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may delegate the
attendance of the Secretary under clause (i) to a level not
below the Deputy Under Secretary for Health of the Department
of Veterans Affairs, but the Secretary shall attend at least
one meeting each year without making such delegation.
``(D) Each meeting of the Committee shall be open to the
public.
``(7) Compensation and Staff.--(A) Except with respect to a
member who serves a scientific director under subparagraph
(C)(ii) and is treated as staff for purposes of compensation,
each member of the Committee
[[Page H4864]]
shall be paid at the daily rate provided for temporary and
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5,
United States Code, for each day during which the member
attends meetings of the Committee.
``(B) The members of the Committee shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from
their homes or regular places of business in the performance
of service of the Committee.
``(C)(i) The chairman of the Committee may appoint a staff
of not more than four employees to provide the Committee
scientific and administrative support. Such employees may
be--
``(I) detailees of the Department of Veterans Affairs or
other departments or agencies of the Federal Government;
``(II) individuals employed as temporary employees of the
Federal Government; or
``(III) at the request of the chairman of the Committee,
provided under a contract entered into by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and a medical school or other medical
research institution selected by the chairman of the
Committee.
``(ii) The chairman of the Committee may appoint, from the
members of the Committee, a scientific director to supervise
the operations of the Committee. Such director shall count as
one of the four employees authorized under clause (i).
``(iii) At the request of the chairman of the Committee,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall procure services from
nongovernmental consultants to assist the Committee in
preparing reports, background papers, and other material for
consideration by the Committee. Such services may be procured
under the contract described in clause (i)(III).
``(8) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--(A)
Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the
Committee shall be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
``(B) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult with
the chairman of the congressional veterans committees in
designating an officer or employee of the Department under
section 10 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App.).
``(C) Notwithstanding such section 10, such designated
officer or employee may not have authority--
``(i) over the agenda or conduct of a meeting;
``(ii) to adjourn a meeting of the Committee; or
``(iii) to take any other action that is inconsistent with
the independence of the Committee under paragraph (2).
``(9) Funding.--Amounts for the activities of the Committee
shall be derived from amounts appropriated to the Department
of Veterans Affairs for purposes of this subsection.
``(10) Termination.--(A) Except as provided by subparagraph
(B), the Committee shall terminate on the date that is two
years after the date on which the Committee submits to the
congressional veterans committees, the Secretary of Defense,
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a report (signed by not
less than nine concurring members) explaining that each
Secretary is carrying out an effective research program
relating to the health consequences of military service in
the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.
``(B) If during the two-year period described in
subparagraph (A) the Committee notifies the congressional
veterans committees, the Secretary of Defense, and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs that the information contained
in the report submitted under subparagraph (A) is no longer
applicable, the two-year period shall toll until the date on
which the Committee submits a new report described in
subparagraph (A).''.
(b) Definitions; Redesignation; Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Definitions.--Such section 707 is further amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `congressional veterans committees' means
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
``(2) The term `Gulf War' means the Southwest Asia theater
of operations from August 2, 1990, to July 31, 1991.
``(3) The term `Gulf War veteran' means an individual who
served as a member of the Armed Forces in the Gulf War.''.
(2) Redesignation.--Subsection (a) of such section 707 is
amended by striking ``, and may redesignate from time to
time,''.
(3) Conforming amendments.--Such section 707 is further
amended--
(A) in paragraph (1) of subsection (b), as designated by
subsection (a)(1) and amended by paragraph (2)--
(i) by inserting ``(in this subsection referred to as the
`Committee')'' after ``an advisory committee''; and
(ii) by striking ``and representatives of such veterans''
and inserting ``representatives of such veterans, and
individuals from the scientific and medical community'';
(B) by striking ``Persian Gulf theater of operations during
the Persian Gulf War'' each place it appears and inserting
``Gulf War'';
(C) by striking ``Persian Gulf War veterans'' each place it
appears and inserting ``Gulf War veterans''; and
(D) by striking ``during the Persian Gulf War'' each place
it appears and inserting ``during the Gulf War''.
(c) Members Currently Serving.--
(1) Membership.--Notwithstanding paragraph (5)(A) of
subsection (b) of such section 707, as amended by subsection
(a)(2), the chairmen and ranking members of the congressional
veterans committees shall jointly designate 10 members of the
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
established pursuant to such subsection (b) who are serving
as members as of the date of the enactment of this Act to
continue to serve as members for periods determined pursuant
to paragraph (2) rather than for the term for which the
members were appointed before such date of enactment.
(2) Period of service.--The chairmen and ranking members of
the congressional veterans committees shall jointly determine
the period of service of each member specified in paragraph
(1) in a manner that staggers the periods of such members in
periods of one, two, or three years beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act. In determining such staggered
periods, the chairmen and ranking members shall take into
account the order of filling vacancies pursuant to subsection
(b)(5)(B) of such section 707, as amended by subsection
(a)(2). Any vacancies occurring of such members shall be
filled in accordance with such subsection.
(3) New members.--Upon designating members under paragraph
(1), the chairmen of the congressional veterans committees
shall each appoint one additional member to the committee
from among individuals who have not served on the Research
Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses. Such
appointments shall be treated as the first and second
vacancies described in subclauses (I) and (II) of subsection
(b)(5)(B)(i) of such section 707, as amended by subsection
(a)(2), respectively.
(4) Reappointment.--A member of the Committee specified in
paragraph (1) who has served more than three years may not be
reappointed after the period for the member specified in
paragraph (2) expires.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH CASE DEFINITION OF GULF WAR ILLNESS.
(a) Standard Definition.--Except as provided by subsection
(b), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that any
research conducted or funded by the Secretary on the chronic
multisymptom illness that afflicts approximately 25 percent
of Gulf War veterans--
(1) refers to the illness as ``Gulf War Illness''; and
(2) uses the research case definition of such illness that
is recommended from time to time by the Research Advisory
Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses established by
section 707 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public
Law 102-585; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).
(b) Alternative Definition.--During any period in which the
Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses
has not recommended a research case definition for Gulf War
Illness, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that
any research on such illness conducted or funded by the
Secretary uses a research case definition that is consistent
with the definition of the term ``chronic multisymptom
illness in Persian Gulf War veterans'' provided by section
805(e) of the Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-
275; 124 Stat. 2890).
(c) Advice.--The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War
Veterans' Illnesses shall submit to the Secretary of Defense
advice regarding the best type of organization and process
for the Gulf War Illness Research Program of the
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program to use to
develop a research case definition of ``Gulf War Illness''.
SEC. 4. STUDIES AND REPORTS ON GULF WAR ILLNESS.
(a) Conduct of New Studies.--
(1) Evaluation of animal studies.--In conducting or funding
any study relating to illnesses of Gulf War veterans on or
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall ensure that such study is conducted in
a manner such that animal studies are considered to the same
extent in all respects as human studies.
(2) Sufficient evidence of association.--In conducting or
funding any study relating to illnesses of Gulf War veterans,
or other health matters of veterans, on or after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Institute of Medicine of the
National Academies shall ensure that such study is conducted
in a manner that defines ``sufficient evidence of an
association'' in the ``categories of association'' used in
the study as the following: ``Evidence is sufficient to
conclude that there is a positive association. That is, a
positive association has been observed between an exposure to
a specific agent and a health outcome in human or animal
studies in which chance, bias, and confounding could be ruled
out with reasonable confidence.''.
(b) Sense of Congress on National Cohort Study.--It is the
sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
should conduct an additional follow-up study of a national
cohort of Gulf War and Gulf-War-Era veterans that includes
questions described in the ``Symptom Inventory Required to
Ascertain Case Status for Gulf War Multisymptom Illness, as
Defined by both the Fukuda and Kansas criteria'' published by
the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans'
Illnesses on June 9, 2012, in appendix F of the document
titled ``Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans'
Illnesses Findings and Recommendations''.
(c) Sense of Congress on Study on Risk of Developing
Multiple Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease,
[[Page H4865]]
Brain Cancers, and Other Conditions.--It is the sense of
Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should submit
to the congressional veterans committees each report required
by section 804 of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of
2008 (Public Law 110-389; 122 Stat. 4187).
(d) Sense of Congress on Previously Conducted Studies.--It
is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs should--
(1) seek to enter into an agreement with the Institute of
Medicine of the National Academies to carry out the review
described in section 805 of the Veterans' Benefits Act of
2010 (Public Law 111-275; 124 Stat. 2890), regardless of any
previous review conducted under such section, in a manner
that ensures that the Institute of Medicine convenes to
conduct the review a group of medical professionals who are
experienced in treating individuals who served as members of
the Armed Forces in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations
of the Persian Gulf War during 1990 or 1991 and who have been
diagnosed with Gulf War illness, chronic multisymptom
illness, or another health condition related to chemical and
environmental exposure that may have occurred during such
service;
(2) seek to enter into an agreement with the Institute of
Medicine to carry out the review described in section 1603 of
the Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-
277; 38 U.S.C. 1117 note), regardless of any previous review
conducted under such section, addressing the matters
originally reviewed by the Institute of Medicine in the
reports titled ``Gulf War and Health: Volume 1. Depleted
Uranium, Sarin, Pyridostigmine Bromide, and Vaccines'',
``Gulf War and Health: Volume 2. Insecticides and Solvents'',
and ``Gulf War and Health: Volume 3. Fuels, Combustion
Products, and Propellants''; and
(3) not disseminate or use for research, clinical care,
benefits, or any other purpose the results of the report of
the Institute of Medicine titled ``Gulf War and Health
Report: Volume 9. Treatment for Chronic Multisymptom
Illness''.
(e) Sense of Congress on Consultation.--It is the sense of
Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should, prior
to entering into a contract or agreement with the Institute
of Medicine of the National Academies with respect to
research or studies on the health of Gulf War veterans,
obtain the advice of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf
War Veterans' Illnesses established by section 707 of the
Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-585; 38
U.S.C. 527 note) regarding the scope of work and the charge
to be given to the Institute of Medicine.
(f) Sense of Congress on Inclusion of Certain Professionals
in Scientific or Medical Groups.--It is the sense of Congress
that, in any contract requiring the Institute of Medicine of
the National Academies to convene a committee to study the
health of Gulf War veterans, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs should ensure that any such committee convened should
contain not less than three members of the Research Advisory
Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses established by
section 707 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public
Law 102-585; 38 U.S.C. 527 note).
(g) Sense of Congress on Notification of Undue Influence.--
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs should promptly notify the congressional veterans
committees of any employee or contractor of the Federal
Government whom the Secretary believes influenced, or
attempted to influence, the outcome of a report or study on
the health of Gulf War veterans conducted by the Department
of Veterans Affairs or the Institute of Medicine of the
National Academies if such influence was not related to a
scientifically objective outcome.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``congressional veterans committees'' means
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate.
(2) The term ``Gulf War'' means the Southwest Asia theater
of operations from August 2, 1990, to July 31, 1991.
(3) The term ``Gulf War veteran'' means an individual who
served as a member of the Armed Forces in the Gulf War.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs.
Kirkpatrick) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
general leave
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members would have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on H.R. 4261.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, we paused to remember those who have paid the
ultimate sacrifice in defense of this great Nation, but it is also
important to remember those who are still suffering as a result of
their service.
It has been estimated that as many as 250,000 veterans have some form
of Gulf War illness. Despite millions of dollars in government funding
and years of research, it is clear that more has got to be done to
better understand this disease, so we can properly care for and
compensate these veterans.
The bill before us today reaffirms the essential role of the Research
Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses and provides the
committee with the independence that it needs, so that it can continue
its vital work.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 4261.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 4261,
the Gulf War Health Research Reform Act of 2014, and I yield myself
such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank the chairman of our
committee, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman), for his
sponsorship of this bill. It is such an important one, and I am a
cosponsor on that.
For many of the veterans of the gulf war who suffer from Gulf War
illness, it has been a long, hard-fought battle, just to have this
government recognize that their illness and serious physical conditions
were caused by toxic exposures.
Congress first created the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War
Veterans' Illnesses because the research being done at the time was
considered inadequate, partially due to a mistaken belief that it was a
psychological condition.
Through the research, we now know that Gulf War illness is a
debilitating physical condition, not something that is all in your
head, as many veterans were initially told.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4261 will ensure that the Gulf War illness research
advisory committee conducts and reviews objective research to help our
veterans who are suffering from Gulf War illnesses. This research is
essential to finding treatments that improve veterans' health and
quality of life.
It is also important that causes of these illnesses be identified so
that our veterans with illnesses connected to service during the gulf
war can receive VA medical treatment and VA benefits, and it will also
help our military, so that commanders can work to prevent and limit our
troops' exposure to toxic chemicals in the future.
{time} 1800
This bill will allow the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War
Veterans' Illnesses to direct research and review research findings
independent of the VA. It will restore the independent authority of the
Research Advisory Committee by having the chairs and ranking members of
the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees appoint nine members
and allowing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to appoint three
members.
Additionally, the Advisory Committee will provide advice to the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to the House and Senate Veterans'
Affairs Committees on proposed research studies, research plans, or
research strategies related to the health consequences of military
service during the gulf war.
Our gulf war veterans suffer from real illnesses. These illnesses
require real treatments that can only be found through proper,
objective, evidence-based research. This Research Advisory Committee
has the potential to find these treatments with the right combination
of researchers directing and reviewing research.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, there has been a gentleman who
chairs the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations who has been at
the forefront of making sure that health care is provided in a timely
fashion to our veterans, somebody who himself is a combat veteran. I
yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman).
Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, as a gulf war and Iraq war veteran, I am
grateful for the leadership of the gentleman from Florida, Chairman
Miller, on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and for his support
of H.R. 4261.
[[Page H4866]]
H.R. 4261, the Gulf War Health Research Reform Act of 2014, which I
sponsored along with Ranking Member Kirkpatrick and full committee
Ranking Member Michaud, restores the independence of the Research
Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses to perform the role
it has historically played, as intended by Congress, to improve the
lives of ill gulf war veterans.
This bill is necessary because some career VA staff have been trying
to revive the discredited 1990s fiction that nothing special happened
to gulf war veterans' health and that the problems experienced by gulf
war veterans are just ``what happens after every war'' due to
psychological stress factors.
Because there is no scientific evidence for this position, VA
staffers have resorted to manipulating research studies and reports to
try and revive this discredited theory. A major new VA gulf war veteran
survey, for example, included the questions necessary to identify PTSD
but not Gulf War illness.
Most shockingly, VA has even manipulated new research of the
Institute of Medicine by limiting the terms of its contracts. VA
transformed the Institute of Medicine gulf war treatments study ordered
by Congress into a report based largely on psychotherapies. The
Research Advisory Committee objected strongly to these actions, which
threatened to mislead treatment research just as science is finally
turning the corner. VA retaliated by eliminating the independence of
the committee, changing its charter to remove its authority to review
the effectiveness of government research programs, and replacing the
members serving on the committee. The effect of these changes can
already be seen.
The section of the new 2014 Research Advisory Committee report that
detailed VA's manipulations of research had to be removed because the
committee's authority to review the effectiveness of VA's research
programs had been eliminated.
The independent voice, so critical to honest research, will be all
but replaced by September with those who seem to bend to VA's will.
H.R. 4261 will restore the authority of the committee and provide
that its membership, instead of being appointed entirely by VA, will
consist of nine members appointed by the chairs and ranking members of
the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, the Senate Veterans' Affairs
Committee, and three members chosen by VA. This arrangement follows the
longstanding model of the bipartisan Advisory Committee on Student
Financial Assistance at the Department of Education.
Current law provides that the Research Advisory Committee membership
may include veterans, representatives of veterans, and the general
public. While there are those who seek to limit veteran members to ill
veterans, excluding most veterans service organization representatives
and others, the Research Advisory Committee has been well-served by
having both ill and other veterans serve on the committee.
It is important to remember that the unwillingness of the VA to
honestly address this illness is the reason Congress created the
Research Advisory Committee in the first place. The 1997 congressional
report that led to that legislation was entitled, ``Gulf War Veterans'
Illnesses: VA, DOD Continue to Resist Strong Evidence Linking Toxic
Causes to Chronic Health Effects.''
Science has made great progress since then, thanks in no small
measure to the work of the Research Advisory Committee, as well as to
the effective Gulf War Illness Research Program that Congress created
at the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. But this
progress is all at risk if VA is able to again mislead science down
blind alleys, directing scarce research dollars at the wrong target, as
so often happened in the 1990s and 2000s.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 1\1/2\
minutes.
Mr. COFFMAN. I thank the chairman.
It is also important to ask why the VA has pursued this course. Last
month, we learned the answer. On April 22, 2014, Military Times
reported that the VA Under Secretary for Benefits, Allison Hickey,
objected even to using the term ``Gulf War illness'' because it ``might
imply a casual link between service in the gulf and poor health which
could necessitate . . . disability compensation for veterans who served
in the gulf.''
Even if this policy was morally justifiable and saving money was the
only goal, it is wrong. It will cost the Federal Government far less in
the long run to face this problem honestly and pursue effective
treatments, rather than to deny benefits and provide misleading
research.
We have strong support for this legislation from the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, American Veterans, or AMVETS, and the Vietnam Veterans of
America.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Without an independent
Research Advisory Committee, the slow but steady progress toward
identifying treatments for Gulf War illness will most surely end.
Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to acknowledge
the work of Mr. Jim Binns of Arizona, who has made countless trips back
here advocating for this bill.
I urge my colleagues to support it. We really need to do right by our
gulf war veterans.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support
H.R. 4261, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4261.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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